First Day in the Digital World
DATS HQ
Commander Satsuma had his team assemble at the podium to address them.
"I quite agree that this situation has changed, and for the worst. It looks like a confrontation with this Merukimon is inevitable, so best that it be on our terms. You also need to know, and some of you may already, so bear with me. As I said, this involves Masaru, his father, and the first away team to visit the Digital World.
"The problems began back in the mid-1990s, with the appearance of what were termed 'UMAs' – Unidentified Mysterious Animals. This, in itself, wouldn't have been much of a problem, that was until ten years ago..."
The Commander got a dreamy look in his eye: "Has it really been ten years?"
"That was when kids began disappearing from all around Tokyo. These were kids who had never had a history of running away. They were all good kids. There were no signs of any sort of foul play, no bodies ever turned up, nothing but missing kids. Naturally, the government assembled a team of police detectives. I was part of that team.
"Our investigation discovered some things: all the missing kids owned cell phones, just before they disappeared, they excused themselves claiming to have urgent business, in response to a text message they'd received. They were seen to be converging on the Shibuya train station, witnesses placed them there, yet none bought a ticket, nor boarded a train. None were ever seen getting off at some other station. Some witnesses claim to have seen them enter one specific elevator, yet none were seen afterwards. Naturally, we gave Shibuya Station a thorough going-over, but turned up nothing out of the ordinary.
"Then, about a couple of weeks later, the missing kids began to reappear just as mysteriously as they'd disappeared. None had any recollection of where they'd been, what they'd done. They didn't even know that two weeks out of their lives were missing. The puzzle wasn't solved until a civil war that broke out in the Digital World spilled over and onto the streets of Tokyo surrounding the Shibuya Station. After debriefing Takuya Kanbara and his friends we knew what had happened.
"Lady Ophanimon, even though imprisoned and greatly weakened, sent an appeal to the Material World for help. This appeal came as text messages. For some, the promise was adventure, to others, the promise of brighter futures, for still others, help in finding a purpose to life. All delivered with just enough time for the recipient to get to Shibuya. She wanted to see decisiveness, thus the demand for an immediate response. Of all the kids who went, only five would ultimately be chosen to receive the five uncorrupted spirits of the Legendary Warriors. Those five were Takuya Kanbara, Koji Minamato, Junpei Shibayama, Izumi Orimoto, and Tomoki Himi.
"This was a disturbing development, learning that the Frontier was a two way street, that humans could transit into the Digital World. First, an away team was assembled to explore the new world of whose existence we'd just become aware. Next, to find a solution to a problem that could lead to mass panic, since no one would ever know if they might be next to disappear, or be lured, into the Digital World. We needed to understand what the intentions of these digimon were.
"The away team discovered the Digital World in ruins. A result of the recent civil war against a revived Lucemon. All those who went on that original away team returned safely, but for one man who stayed behind to seek the means by which good relations between our two worlds may be forged. That man was Suguru Daimon, Masaru's father".
"But... why..."
"We don't know what became of his mission – or of him, I'm afraid. However, we know he is alive as he sent back to the Material World the schemo for the digivices you all use. He also sent back Kamemon and Kudamon to help establish DATS, to both discourage the transit of digimon, and to prepare the public at large for the introduction to the Digital World"
"My Dad invented the digivice?", Masaru asked.
"Indeed he did", the Commander confirmed.
"As to your mission, I want to stress that we are not leaving anyone behind this time. We are in the business of preserving lives, and that includes your own. I'm trusting that you will not do anything rash and foolish to endanger yourselves or your mission. I also emphasize that any away mission is inherently dangerous, especially in these times and Merukimon's proved hostility towards humans. If any of you want to back out now, you may leave and no one will think any less of you. Is that understood?"
No one left.
"Take the rest of the day off, rest up well, and good luck".
Masaru's Home
"So the Commander told you about your father's mission to the Digital World?", his mother said as she poured tea for them. "There isn't much I can add, except that I still miss him very much".
"So you knew this all along?", Masaru asked, doing his best to keep the anger out of his voice.
"Trapped in an alien world... forever...", Dorumon was saying.
"I hope you can understand why I didn't tell you. I see a lot of your father in you, and I don't want to lose anyone else. I hope you're not entertaining any notions of going to the Digital World?"
Masaru rose, stood over the kitchen table, leaning against the top.
"If that's what it takes to get him back", he said. "Dad's still stuck there and I want to get him back, don't you?"
"Masaru..."
"Listen: don't worry about me. I'll defeat whatever gets in my way. I'm even going to bring down Merukimon. Just watch. Then I'm going to come home with Dad. You'll see!"
"You're certainly your father's son, aren't you?"
"Is that a bad thing?".
"Just promise me, just promise me you won't get lost in the Digital World. OK? Promise me you'll come back. I don't know if I could stand to lose you too".
"I promise, and I'll come back with Dad, you'll see".
"Let's hope"
DATS HQ
"Just as I feared", Yoshi said. "Every file on Suguru Daimon is classified".
"Can you hack it?", Thomas asked.
"Not before we have to leave. That'll take time, and would be very illegal".
"It was a terrible black eye for the bureaucrats and politicians", Thomas remarked. "It's incidents like this that they would just as soon see forgotten".
"Then how are we supposed to help if we don't know the details?", Lalamon asked.
"From everything I can gather, he sounds like a great man", Gaomon said. "What I don't understand is why every effort wasn't made to rescue him? It seems strange".
"You still have a lot to learn about Material World bureaucracy, Gaomon".
Yoshi's Apartment
"Hi, mom..."
"No, everything's alright..."
"No, maw..."
"Of course I'm sure... It's just that I have to leave town for awhile, and I don't know for how long..."
"Yes, business related..."
"I'm afraid I can't... won't have access to phones..."
"We talked about this before, there are some things I can't explain..."
"I'll call as soon as I get back..."
"You have a good night too... Bye..."
"Yoshi?", Lalamon asked.
"That didn't go as smoothly as I hoped".
"She's just concerned, that's all".
Norstein Manor
"Please don't call me 'Master'", Thomas told Rutherford.
"Old habits are hard to break... I know I'm not your father, but if you'd like to talk about it?"
"I wish I could, but orders, you know".
"I take it this isn't just a routine business trip?"
"No, it isn't, not this time and there is some potential for danger. I can't deny that. After all, Masaru's father went missing several years ago".
"Whatever it is, you'll do just fine. You always have. We'll be waiting for your return, and you don't have to worry: I'll run interference with your father".
"Thanks, Rutherford".
DATS HQ
"What we know about the Digital World can't begin to compare to what we don't know", The Commander was explaining before the departure. "We can't rush in blindly lest another incident like the one with Dr. Daimon repeats itself. We're in the business of saving lives, and that includes each and every one of you. We are not going to leave anyone behind this time. Be careful".
"What is that?", Yoshi asked of a large package wrapped in purple paper, and ties with a yellow bow.
"My mom sent it along: she made lunches for all of us", Masaru explained the package he'd brought.
"Yannow, this isn't a picnic", Thomas commented.
"Sounds like Thomas doesn't want his share", Masaru said.
"Can I have his?", Dorumon asked.
"Sure, Gaomon's too".
"I'd like my share, actually", Gaomon said.
"It was very thoughtful of her", Lalamon said. "Tell her 'thanks' for me".
"Let's hope that what we have for lunch is the biggest problem we have out there", Yoshi commented.
"We have some new equipment", Miki was explaining. "This one", as she showed them, "will identify any unknown digimon you might happen to meet".
"And this one", Megumi explained, "can repel hostiles with a stiff shock... In case you run into Merukimon".
"These are 'denso-markers'", Megumi displayed yet another set of gear. "Use them for emergencies: they'll pin point your location in case we have to do a sudden evacuation".
"I'm not so sure about all of this", Yoshi complained, "putting all your faith in gadgets".
"I've checked out all their features myself", Thomas explained, "and they're as fool proof as anything can be made".
"We built everything to the highest standards", Megumi explained. "Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it".
"We've given you the best of the best", Kudamon explained.
"I won't be losing anyone else", the Commander agreed. "If there is nothing left to discuss, then igood luck. Come back safe. It's time to go"
"Roger!", they all agreed.
Yoshi, Masaru, and Thomas took their place in the Digital Dive, digimon stored in their digivices. Megumi and Miki were operating the controls.
"Digital Harmonizer aligning..."
"Warp field generators powering up..."
"Co-ordinates entered and locked... access code recognized..."
"Digigate open... Initiating transport..."
"Transport in three seconds".
The chamber filled with a bright light, and when it was gone, so were the trio.
"Well, that's that", Kudamon said. "Think they'll be alright?"
"I wish I had an answer for you, Kudamon", he said. "All we can do now is hope for the best".
They found themselves dropping down a long, dark vertical shaft.
Digital World
A bright shaft of light descended from the sky into a clearing in what looked like a temperate forest. As it disappeared, it deposited the trio.
"So much of this looks like our world", Yoshi commented.
"Except for the rocks floating in the sky", Lalamon added.
Digital World gravity operated selectively, and there were indeed rocks of all sizes floating above them for some reason. The other difference was a sky that was a much deeper shade of blue. White cotton ball clouds drifted above the floating rocks, and high altitude cirrus above that. These looked like the feathery cirrus of the Material World, except that some broke up into patterns suggesting a circuit board. They looked around, seeing no digimon, however, their arrival had not gone as unnoticed as they hoped. Merukimon already knew about it, and they had an unseen observer.
"Incredible", Yoshi commented.
"Oh, please", Masaru replied.
"What? You don't find this place weird?", she asked.
"You're forgetting: some of us have been here before".
Another shaft of light appeared: "Our supplies have arrived", Thomas announced.
"You'd think they could drop them a little closer", Masaru was complaining.
"I guess you don't want that lunch", Yoshi said.
"Huh?"
"Because last one there doesn't get any!", as she and Thomas ran into the forest.
"Now I see what you two are up to! No way are you beating me!"
As they were arriving, the pod that contained all the supplies was struck by something moving fast. It broke the pod apart before it disappeared in a cloud of disorganized data.
"HUH!", Masaru called out.
"Quickly!", Thomas said as he pulled out his digivice: "Gaomon! Reload!"
"Lalamon, reload!"
"Dorumon, reload!"
DATS HQ
"Sir! I've lost their signal!"
"I can't contact them at all!"
"WHAT!", Satsuma called out.
"Not again", Kudamon said.
Digital World
The fast projectile reappeared. This time, Masaru saw it was a boomerang that struck the ground just ahead of him with enough force that it would have taken him off his feet if he hadn't tucked and rolled. He immediately regained his feet.
"Masaru!", Thomas called out. "Where do you think you're going!"
"Dorumon and I are gonna have a few choice words with that asshole!"
"Wait!"
It was obvious Masaru and his partner weren't going to wait. Yoshi, Thomas, and their partners had no choice but to follow them into the forest.
"Hold on!", Masaru called out, "is that a kid?!"
He'd spotted the boomerang's owner, moving fast through the trees.
"What's a child doing here?", Yoshi asked.
"We'd better find out", Thomas said.
That was going to be easier said than done, they discovered. Whoever this was gave a tree a powerful kick that sent scores of what looked like sycamore balls cascading down on them, except they were larger, heavier, and covered with very sharp thorns. They had no choice but to stop and cover.
"Hey! Wait kid!", Yoshi called out. "Come baaaaa..."
Without warning, a plant like a Venus Flytrap caught her by the ankle, suspending her upside down.
"Yoshi!", Masaru called out.
The kid leaped to a small cliff to watch. He was joined by another digimon.
"Noguchi", he greeted.
"Falcomon"
"I've been looking for you everywhere... why are you hiding here?"
"Outworlders", Noguchi pointed out, "there. I hate all Outworlders"
Thomas and Gaomon were helping Yoshi escape the "Venus Flytrap"
"Wait!", Falcomon called out as Noguchi grabbed a vine.
With a yell he swung and launched himself at Masaru, knocking him down. He took two swings at Masaru, who caught his fists.
"Nice try, little boy..."
"Noguchi! Watch out!"
He backed off and Masaru rolled out of the way of several star shaped throwing knives that landed where he'd just been laying. This Noguchi leaped to a branch. No longer bothering to conceal himself.
He wore a yellow, sleeveless T, bright orange trousers that were loose fitting and hung to just below his knees. White sweat socks and sneakers. He had a number of fashion accessories: a fancy silver and turquoise necklace from which hung three eagle feathers, and a dark green cape. His dark, almost black, hair looked as though it seldom ever saw a comb.
"It's that digimon", Dorumon pointed out, "Falcomon".
Falcomon stood by the boy's side and was the same height, they saw.
"That's him. That's the guy", Masaru agreed. "He's on Merukimon's team".
"You Outworlders!", Noguchi raged at them. "You're the enemies of all digimon!"
"What're you talkin' about?", Masaru called back.
"Be quiet!", Noguchi ordered. "You're always disturbing the peace of the Digital World! I hate you all! Take yourselves, your evil, and go back where you belong!"
He pointed at Dorumon: "and take that abomination with you! When digimon like him appeared, that's when all our trouble began!"
Masaru could see this cut Dorumon deeply.
"Fuck're you talkin' about?!", Masaru called back. "If anyone's disturbing the peace, it's not us. It's Merukimon"
"YOU LIE! Merukimon is the protector of all digimon! Now you go! Leave the Digital World!"
It was obvious the discussion was over when he threw his boomerang. Everyone had to duck. Noguchi leaped from the branch, swinging the boomerang. Masaru seemed to be his special target. He swung at the others to make them back off, dodged Lalamon's Seed Shot attack, dodged a swing that Gaomon took at him...
"Firecracker Smokescreen!", Falcomon released smoke bombs that blinded everyone. Falcomon and Noguchi escaped.
"Trespassers! Intruders!" a loud voice was calling out from beyond Falcomon's smoke.
"Now what?!", Yoshi asked.
"You're not wanted here! Get out of my forest immediately!"
"Or what?", Dorumon called back.
His answer came in the form of vine-like tendrils that wrapped around him and Masaru. Noguchi and Falcomon stood on a ledge to watch the show.
"Do... something!", Masaru barely got out, as these tendrils constricted around them.
"Lala Spiral"
"Double Backhand"
Lalamon and Gaomon sliced the tendrils, freeing them.
"You OK?", Thomas asked.
"Yeah. What the hell was that thing?", Masaru asked.
The smoke was finally clearing enough for them to see. It looked like an old growth cherry tree, canopy filled with red cherries. The eyes set into sockets that looked like knot holes, a bushy mustache that looked like moss. Thomas brought up the profile with the digimon analyser DATS had provided them.
Cherrymon
Ultimate Plantiform digimon
Not very fast, but compensates with his vine attack
"Leave my forest at once, Outworlders, or face the consequences!", Cherrymon threatened.
"We'll leave if you tell us how to find Merukimon", Masaru told him.
"You are in no position to be making demands".
"We're not looking for trouble here", Thomas said, "we will leave you in peace if that's what you want, and we'll be on our way. If you can help us find Merukimon?"
"So it is the Guardian of the Forest you seek? It won't be easy to find him".
"Why?"
"Although he is nearby, his fortress is well hidden. It would be best for you to leave my forest now!"
"You Outworlders heard Cherrymon!", Noguchi challenged again. "Now leave before we make you leave!"
"Look, kid, give it a rest...", Masaru was saying.
"Noguchi, use your power", Falcomon requested.
"Youseethat?!", Yoshi gasped out the question.
"A digivice? Where'd he get that?", Thomas asked.
"DNA charge!"
Falcomon digivolve toooo …
… PECKMON!
"Attack!", His partner ordered.
Though Peckmon greatly resembled an ostrich, he was both fully flighted and very fast.
"Spiral Claw!"
This attack struck the ground with enough force that the shockwave took them off their feet.
"How can we defeat such speed?", Gaomon asked.
"DNA charge!"
Lalamon digivolve toooo …
… SUNFLOMON!
Gaomon digivolve toooo …
… GAOGAMON!
Dorumon digivolve toooo …
… DORUGAMON!
Noguchi was riding Peckmon: "This is your last chance, Outworlders!"
This time, Masaru was ready for his boomerang, and gave it a punch strong enough to disintegrate it.
"You little brat! You're about to learn the consequences of attacking the Ultimate Fighting Team on not just one world, but two", Masaru threatened back.
"Power Metal!", Dorugamon attacked.
"What a joke", Peckmon dismissed as he dodged, the steel ball embedding itself into a clay bank behind where Peckmon stood.
"Kunai Wing!", he retaliated.
This attack involved many of diamond-shaped projectiles that struck the ground all around Dorugamon before exploding.
"STOPTHISRIGHTNOWYOUREDESTROYINGMYFOREST!", Cherrymon protested.
They had yet another arrival: Merukimon's advisor, Gotsumon, flying in on the back of an insectoid digimon, Yanmamon.
"Yanmamon, we can't allow those meddling Outworlders to think they have free run of our world. Once we get through with them, they'll wish they never heard of the Digital World".
"Dash Doubleclaw!"
Gaogamon tried to attack, but missed. Peckmon slammed him into the ground.
"Sunshine Beam!"
Ar first Sunflomon thought she'd gotten him only to discover he'd slipped behind her to give her a viscous kick.
"He's so fast", Yoshi called out.
"Stop it at once!", Cherrymon called out. "Cherry Bomb!", he fired off the ordnance to break up the fighting going on around him.
"You reckless maniacs! Does the word 'stop' have no meaning in the Outworld?!"
"Look, guys", Masaru was the first to notice.
Huddled beneath Cherrymon were a large group of small, black digimon with what looked like double leaflets sprouting from their heads,
Nyokimon
Fresh, plantigrade digimon
"Of course, Cherrymon was trying to protect the nyokimon", Masaru said.
Rocks started falling from the sky.
"If you Outworlders don't leave, you're gonna be crushed!", Gotsumon called out.
One nearly hit Noguchi and Peckmon. Trees were being pulverized. Another slammed into the ground at Cherrymon's feet.
"Those rocks, too big for me to stop", Cherrymon was saying.
"Spiral Blow!", Gaogamon blasted one.
"Sunshine Beam!", Sunflomon got another.
"They helped?", Cherrymon asked himself.
"That's right, and you haven't seen what we can do yet", Masaru said.
"Power Metal!", Dorugamon pulverized another.
"Spiral Blow! Sunshine Beam!"
"Oh no! we're never gonna be able to break up that big one", Gaogamon said of the largest boulder headed their way".
"Never say never", Masaru said. "Have you forgotten? We learned a new trick".
"DNA full charge!"
Dorugamon digivolve toooo …
… DORUGREMON!
"Now smash that rock"
Dorugremon took wing and flew above the falling boulder: "Metal Meteor!"
All that reached the ground was dust.
"That digimon, so powerful...", Peckmon was saying.
"I don't give a shit! I want them gone!", Noguchi complained.
"Wait", Peckmon called out, "Look!"
All the nyokimon had come out from under Cherrymon, now that the danger was over. They were all chittering and bouncing around.
"They're cheering for the Outworlders", Peckmon pointed out. "Let's just go"
"Don't worry, you're safe now because we're the Ultimate Team", Masaru announced to the bouncing, giggling nyokimon.
"I don't believe it", Cherrymon was saying, "Outworlders helping digimon in need? That's unheard of!"
"That's right", Masaru said. "I don't know what you've heard about Outworlders, but you were seriously misinformed. Why wouldn't we do everything we can to protect innocent life? We didn't come here to destroy".
"It would seem that I have been misinformed", Cherrymon agreed, "since you helped us, it is only fitting that I help you".
"Can you tell us about that boy?", Thomas asked.
"I don't care about that loser, all I need to know is where to find him..."
"Don't go thinking with your fists", Yoshi told him. "Learning about that boy could help improve our understanding of how humans and digimon can better relate. I know our main mission is Merukimon, but this is a side benefit. Who knows? Maybe we can learn something we can use to locate your dad?"
"I will tell you of what I know about Merukimon. It isn't much, mind you, but he lives somewhere near the Permanent Portal".
"Now if we could only find that".
"Look, young one, there", Cherrymon pointed. "Off in the distance, that peak that towers over the surrounding ones. There, you will find the Infinite Ice Ridge, and there you will find Merukimon".
"Maybe when we find him, we'll find a way back home", Thomas said.
"We still have the denso-markers", Gaomon pointed out.
"Don't worry about it", Masaru announced. "Relax and take a page from my book: just have faith we'll get back without a hitch because there's nothing you can't do if you believe in yourself".
"That's right", Dorumon agreed.
"The sooner we get started, the sooner we can go home"
"Or the sooner you get us into trouble", Yoshi said.
"You say that like it's a bad thing", Masaru replied.
"If you ever come this way again, you will always be welcome in my forest".
Infinite Ice Ridge
"Merukimon, Sir Merukimon, Sir!", Gotsumon called out. "It's the Outworlders: they're coming here"
"Good!", Merukimon replied.
"You have a plan, Sir?"
His only answer was a chuckle.